Christian Council calls for peaceful negotiation in the KNUST impasse

By Lydia
Kukua Asamoah, GNA

Accra, Oct 23, GNA – The Christian Council of
Ghana (CCG) is urging all parties involved in the Kwame Nkrumah University of
Science and Technology (KNUST) brouhaha to resort to peaceful negotiations
rather than violence.

The Council said it was ready to lead to
mediate “this crisis as a neutral party”. 

A statement signed by Rev Dr Cyril
Fayose, General Secretary of CCG and copied to the Ghana News Agency on
Tuesday said the disturbances on the KNUST campus were unfortunate. “I know
this case has elicited strong passions and those passions may have erupted into
violence.

“But we are a nation of laws and a people of
peace. I am appealing to all parties to conduct themselves in calm and orderly
manner as resolution is sought to this impasse”, Rev Fayose indicated in the
statement.

It indicated that peace was the fundamental
block in development and violence only left communities in tatters.

“I therefore urge all parties to come to the
negotiation table rather than resort to violence. Students must cease the
destruction of property, state institutions must cease the brutalisation of
students and the government must act quickly to resolve this crisis.”

Following an emergency meeting with the
Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) in Kumasi, Authorities of KNUST, has
temporarily closed down the University.

This was after some aggrieved students of the
University embarked on a violent demonstration on Monday, October 22,
destroying property worth several thousands of Ghana Cedis.

“The situation on the ground does not auger
well for smooth academic activities, as well as the safety of students and
staff.

“The Council, acting in consultation with the
University authorities has, therefore, decided to for now put on hold all
activities on campus,” Mr. Simon Osei-Mensah, the Regional Minister and
Chairman of the Council, confirmed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA).

Consequently, the student body was directed to
go home and GNA found out when it visited the campus on Monday evening that the
University was almost deserted with heavy security presence.

What was supposed to be a peaceful
demonstration by the students against what they described as brutalities by the
University authorities on Monday turned violent as some of the aggrieved
students went on the rampage.

The demonstrators smashed louvres, billboards,
windscreens of parked vehicles, and other property of the University.

Eighteen students, including; two females have
since been apprehended, and helping the police with investigations.

GNA

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